b'When she is in the classroom with the children, although she is not wearing vestments, she is taking on the character of teacher, and has a responsibility to be true to that roles requirements. Godly Play has an established set, with props that support its child-centered purposes. Kate explains that the classroom is designed to reveal itself to those children as theirs, and to make it clear that they can be themselves in it. As she talks about the structure that underlies Godly Play, and the asking of its very specific questions, it becomes clear that there is also an aspect of improvisation in it. You never know what a child is going to bring into class, she says. By listening respectfully to what they bring up, she can move the discussion at hand in a compatible direction. As she observes their responses, she is also helping the children to open themselves to the ideas, and to express them in the language that they have. And underneath it all, there is the way her whole face lights up when she says, I just love children so much.Pumpkins in the ParkKyle Bomar, Youth and Adult Formation MinisterKyle Bomars growth into faith is a remarkable example of what Christian formation is all about. He was not raised in a structured tradition, but his Christian faith entered his heart at a very young age, and there it has remained. His understanding of what opens a way into Christ-centered maturity is informed by his own life. His gentleness makes him a born teacher, not as one who dictates but as one who welcomes and leads.Our church was one of two branches of the Church of God, which is an evangelical Christianholiness movement. In many ways it was a wonderful experience. From a very early age, I knew, and felt, that God loved me. But what first put him off the organization he grew up in was a loss of trust in someone who was part of his original experience. And he had persistent questions about how we live what we say we believe. I began to wonder, he says, what if God loved other people, too? How far does grace extend? He has felt called to ministry in some form sinceHe listens, and he was 18. In college, Kyle was involved with an ecumenical youth organization, and was perfectly happytostayuninvolvedwithanorganizedis committed to church. Still, his look back at his childhoods more organic form of church life had ignited in him thebuilding programs questions of spirit and structure in his own calling. Without an established church, he says, I didnt feel that I had the scaffolding that I needed. based on the (continued on next page) participants6'